Don’t Reach for That Sweater! Finding the Ideal Office Temperature for All Your Employees
Does this sound familiar? Outside, the weather is sweltering, but inside, you’re freezing. Your desk is frequently adorned with blankets and heating pads, while your trusty cardigan is always part of your work outfit. If so, you’re not alone. Researchers have found it’s not uncommon to feel chilly at the office. This doesn't just make for an uncomfortable working environment; studies have shown that this temperature may be directly impacting productivity. In 2004, a Cornell study found that people were more productive when the office temperature was a lukewarm 77 degrees. The study’s female participants were tracked for 20 consecutive days as they typed at work. When the temperature dipped below 70 degrees, error rates skyrocketed up to 25%! In addition, women might be feeling this chill more than their male counterparts. Scientists believe this is because women tend to carry their fat around their midsections and thighs. This means that while their torsos remain warm, their ears, arms, and necks are more susceptible to the frosty air wafting from the company’s air conditioning unit.
A recent study has even gone so far as to connect this productivity rate with gender norms. Tom Chang partnered with Agne Kajackaite of the WZB Berlin Social Science Center to study the test results of students — both male and female — while the temperature of the room shifted from 61 to 91 degrees. The experts found that as the temperature heated up, women performed better on the math and verbal skills portions, while the men’s scores plummeted, and vice versa. Despite the diversity in most working environments, many offices continue to maintain a cooler working temperature, like what would have been ideal for offices when its workers were predominantly men. Shifting the thermostat up a few notches could create a middle ground that is ideal for all your employees! Uncomfortable working conditions are detrimental to employees’ productivity and could be costing you extra money. If your company’s HVAC unit is struggling to keep your office at the ideal temperature, the experts at Aire Serv of the Mid-Hudson Valley can help. Learn more about our corporate HVAC servicing by calling 845-256-6158 or visit AireServ.com/Mid-Hudson-Valley.
Gazpacho, an Andalusian soup made of blended vegetables and traditionally served cold, is the perfect refresher on a warm summer day. SUMMERTIME GAZPACHO
HAVE A LAUGH!
INGREDIENTS
• 2 1/2 lbs ripe tomatoes, cored, seeded, and cut into 1-inch chunks • 1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch chunks • 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and sliced into ribbons • 1 small Vidalia onion, peeled and cubed • 1/4 cup basil leaves
• 1 clove garlic, peeled • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 2 tbsp sherry vinegar • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS 1. Place a blender and medium mixing bowl on your workstation. 2. Divide the tomato, cucumber, and bell pepper evenly between blender and bowl. Place all of the onion in blender. 3. Add basil, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper to blender. Blend on low, gradually increasing speed to high until the mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes. 4. Add blender contents to bowl and mix until just broken up, about 10–20 seconds. 5. Let mixture sit in fridge for a minimum of 2 hours. Transfer to bowls and serve.
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